Online betting site BetStars has teamed up with UK Clinical Sport Psychologist of the Year Phil Johnson, who has worked with clubs including Monaco and Liverpool as well as players, coaches and managers from all professional leagues, for a unique insight into the Premier League relegation run-in.

On Crystal Palace: "Palace will survive, Roy Hodgson has done a terrific job in revitalising the squad and has got them believing," he says.

"The team are united in their mission and playing for each other. Roy Hodgson has really has galvanised the team.

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"They play attractive football and [Wilfried] Zaha, who has been an outstanding player in the past but has really struggled, is now firing on all cylinders. Crystal Palace will survive, it will be tight but I think they will survive. Roy Hodgson has really shown great vision.

"I don't think Palace would be where they are now if they hadn't made errors in the last 15 minutes of games where they've been dominant. I think that's a big issue for Roy to solve.

Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

"Scoring goals for any relegation team is critical and [Christian] Benteke typifies a striker struggling to perform and he's done that for almost two seasons.

"There is a psychological issue from a player who is consistently heading over the bar within the six-yard box, shoots wide from goal, and gets his penalties saved.

"I know that he scored recently but I still think there is a significant psychological issue with him and that affects the team."

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On West Ham: "If they were to lose to Stoke that could be pivotal. They have a manager of high calibre in David Moyes but issues within the boardroom coupled with the external environment seems to be impeding the team's performance.

"West Ham have an incredibly difficult program of matches, and it will take all of David Moyes' capability to sustain their primary status.

"West Ham have been plagued by external environmental issues and the board of directors are lacking leadership or the right kind of leadership at the moment. This has impacted on David Moyes' capability to sustain the early impact that he had on the team.

"Moyes has all the capabilities to keep them in the Premier League but I think all the things that are happening in the boardroom have a direct impact upon what happens on the pitch.

"They have to sort that out as it's bigger than the team and it's bigger than David Moyes, it's something that's beyond his control and I think that it could doom the club.

"They could implode not from a football team perspective but from a club perspective. So it's a very worrying situation for them."

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On West Brom : "It seems certain West Brom will be relegated, and if recent press reports are true, the financial position has eroded some of the self-confidence that may have come with the appointment of Alan Pardew.

"My view is that they are already planning for next season in the Championship."

On Stoke City : "Historically they have been a robust club, but I suspect the players have felt some fatigue mentally, which has reduced their capacity to perform.

"They have sufficient talent within that team, but again I would suggest that communication between management and players hasn't been good enough."

On Huddersfield Town : "They started so brightly, but they have lost their shine, and it may well be as one of the Premier League's new boys that the season is beginning to take its toll on their energy, and maybe some of their mental strength, so I think they're susceptible to relegation.

"They have made a sterling effort given the rise of such a small club, but I think it will go down to the last game of the season for them."

On Swansea City : "Some of the early-season issues were down to communication between the coaching staff and the players.

"The new manager [Carlos] Carvalhal has brought a different energy, perspective, optimism, and reality to the club. I think again they will just survive."

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"Yes, it is, without a doubt. There are numerous examples. What new managers do is give a new energy to the team, they come up with new ideas and they will be able to observe externally and see things that the other managers have been blind to or resistant to.

"Whilst managers might complain the players they have are insufficiently talented, someone brought them there in the first place because they felt they were good enough.

"All too often you see really talented players underperforming and in my view it's often to do with the relationship they have with their manager and coaches.

"This is why when managers are dismissed and new ones come in, they have an opportunity to impact upon that level of self-belief which in turn positively affects their performance.

"And then if you do this with the team then they begin to play again more to their capabilities."

How much does staying in the Premier League come down to mental strength as opposed to pure footballing ability?

"Sport is anywhere up to 90% mental. Whatever level you attribute to psychological components, it remains significantly higher than we would always give credit.

"That's where the change can take place with any of the teams in the relegation zone."

"A significant part of mental strength is belief in terms of one's own ability to perform, but also the sense of belief that is felt amongst the team.

"A football manager has a genuine opportunity to positively affect that belief. In addition, if players lose confidence either individually or collectively, this will suppress and constrain individual performance."